Officials confirmed that planned peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Rwanda, originally set for Sunday, have been abruptly canceled after negotiators failed to reach an agreement.
The discussions, mediated by Angola’s President João Lourenço under the African Union’s mandate, aimed to address the escalating conflict in eastern DRC. This region has seen increasing violence since the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group began seizing territory in 2021.
According to the Congolese presidency, negotiations faltered over Rwanda’s insistence that DR Congo hold direct talks with the M23 rebels. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi firmly rejected this, arguing that the rebel group’s activities are inseparable from Rwanda’s military support.
“There is a stalemate because the Rwandans have set as a precondition for the signing of an agreement that the DRC hold a direct dialogue with the M23,” stated Giscard Kusema, spokesperson for the Congolese presidency.
Rwanda’s foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, reiterated the demand, calling for “a firm commitment from the DRC to resume direct talks with the M23 within a well-defined framework and timeframe.”
A Congolese government source dismissed this, asserting that withdrawing Rwandan troops would eliminate the conflict with the M23.
The failed negotiations come amid escalating tensions. An Angola-mediated truce in August briefly calmed the situation, but fighting reignited in late October, with M23 and Rwandan forces threatening Goma, North Kivu’s capital. The city, home to over one million people, faces dire conditions, with another million displaced by the ongoing violence.
Efforts to monitor ceasefire violations have been insufficient. In November, both nations agreed on a framework for withdrawing Rwandan troops from DRC territory. However, disputes over conditions, including dismantling the FDLR—a militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide—have hindered progress.
Addressing parliament last week, President Tshisekedi accused the M23 and Rwanda’s army of acting as “enemies of the Republic.” The humanitarian toll in the mineral-rich but conflict-ridden region continues to mount, with thousands displaced and communities devastated.
This breakdown underscores the immense challenges in securing peace between these central African neighbors, leaving the region braced for further instability.
